By Fr. Roy Cimagala That lamentation of Christ because some people did not ask for forgiveness for their sins in spite of the many blessings given to them (cfr. Matthew 11:20-24) should strongly remind us that no matter how sinful and helplessly wretched we feel we are, God is always eager to forgive us if …
Monthly Archives: May 2026
Motherhood: A journey of roses and thorns
By NEUS BERNABEU, United Nations Population Fund’s representative in the Philippines In the Philippines, mothers hold a place of deep honor. They are often seen as the heart of the home — the quiet strength behind families, the steady hands that nurture, provide and hold everything together. Across generations, Filipino mothers have shaped not only …
BingoPlus launches Tuloy ang Biyahe drivers’ assistance as gas hike pummels public transport sector
As tensions among the United States, Israel and Iran exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, so did fuel prices worldwide, and the Philippines was not spared the unrelenting wrath of a historically unstable and unpredictable market. In fact, Filipinos were the world’s hardest-hit population group due to the fuel price shock, with diesel costs soaring …
Bacolod, 3 NegOcc LGUs return to 5-day workweek
Bacolod City and at least three other local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have reverted to the five-day workweek starting yesterday. Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the development, saying that economic conditions have improved with the stabilization of fuel prices and transportation costs. Under Executive Order (EO) 26, Gasataya directed all department heads to …
Bacolod logs highest HIV deaths in 2025
By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City recorded its highest number of deaths in relation to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2025 since monitoring began in 1995, according to local health officials. Jonathan Diaz, focal person of the city’s HIV Awareness Campaign, said 25 individuals died due to complications due to HIV last year. Data from …
Lacson seeks guidance on regular workweek return
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will seek clarification from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding whether local government units (LGUs) can officially return to the standard five-day work week after several municipalities started reverting to regular office operations. Lacson said he plans to directly …
Task force hails Lacson’s support for Toboso operation
By CESAR JOLITO III The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has welcomed and praised the statement of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson affirming the legitimacy of the April 19 encounter between government forces and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Toboso town, describing it as a strong backing …
Bacolod celebrates chicken inasal anew May 29 to 31
Now in its sixth year, the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival will celebrate anew this city’s world-famous chicken dish from May 29 to 31. The food, culture, music, and entertainment events will be held in three venues, including Manokan Country. “This one-of-its-kind festival in the Philippines honors not only our famous chicken inasal, but also the …
NIR eyes Top 5 finish in PRISAA Games
Negros Island Region (NIR) aims to finish among the Top 5 in the 2026 National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games which kicks off in Bacolod City on Sunday, May 10. Last year in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, NIR ranked sixth in the senior division and fifth in the youth division. “We hope that our collegiate …
Drug smuggling try foiled at airport
By CESAR JOLITO III Airport security personnel intercepted a 25-year-old man after he was found in possession of alleged drug paraphernalia during routine screening at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport early yesterday morning. The suspect was identified as Isagani Ortula, a resident of Barangay Bagtik in Negros Occidental’s Silay City. Police Major Manuel Refuerzo, officer-in-charge of …